Dispensing receptacle for plastic substances



Jan. 25, 1938. w, E, SHERBQNDY 2,106,577

DISPENSING RECEPTACLE FOR PLASTIC SUBSTANCES INV Em OR.

M. L l/YM 5 jfiE/PBOND) BY 13%, x/r/M-i f M ATTORNEYS Jan. 25,1938. w.E. SHERBONDY DISPENSING RECEPTACLE FOR PLASTIC SUBSTANCES Filed Dec. 16,1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. W/LL/AM E. 5HER50/VOY I 3 MN MN N\ NPatented Jan. 25, 1938 UNITED STATES DISPENSING nncnrmom FOR PLA8TICSUBSTANCES William E. Sherbondy, Shaker Heights, Ohio ApplicationDecember 16, 1935, Serial No. 54,616

16 Claims. This application is a continuation, in part, of

my application Serial No. 36,547, filed August- 16th, 1935. Theinvention relates to a dispensing receptacle or container for plasticsubstances, such as caulking material, heavy greases and the like.

An object is to provide a dispensing receptacle having advantages overprior devices of its class, with respect to shipping and handlingvarious plastic substances, and to dispensing the same.

A specific object is to provide an improved end sealing arrangement fora tubular dispensing receptacle.

A further object is to provide an improved end closure for a tubularreceptacle, wherein the closure or part of it is adapted and arranged toserve as a piston for ejecting plastic material from the receptacle.

Other novel aspects of the invention relate to the method of forming anend closure for a tubular container body made of paper or similarinexpensive light-weight and/or more or less compressible material.

Further objects and features will become apparent from the followingdescription relating to the accompanying drawings showing .one practicalembodiment.

Referring briefly to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a central longitudinalsectional fragmentary view of the dispensing receptacle; Figs. 2 and 3are detail sectional views illustrating proposed tools for forming partof an end closure for the main body portion of the receptacle; Fig. 4 isa frag mentary longitudinal sectional view of a suitable holder or gundevice, in which the receptacle hereof may be mounted to effect thedispensing operation; Figs, 5 and 6 are fragmentary perspective views,partly broken away, to show details of the construction of the muzzleportion of such gun; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary central sectional view ofthe discharge end of a modified dispensing receptacle, and Fig. 8 is aview similar to Fig. 4, showing the dispensing receptacle, according toFig. '7, mounted in a gun or holder device which is also appropriatelymodified.

Referring to Fig. 1, the tubular body of the receptacle, indicated at I,and hereinafter referred to as the tube, is preferably made of paperstock, and may be constructed as mailing tubes generally are. The tubemay, instead, comprise any other light-weight, inexpensive andpreferably compressible material having adequate strength to resist aconsiderable amount of internal pressure applied to the plastic contentsof the tube. The tube may be of any convenient length, is

cylindrical in shape, as shown, and both ends are open. The entire innersurface '01 the tube I has an impervious layer, represented at la, forpreventing the plastic contents of the tube from penetrating the bodystructure of the tube. impervious layer preferably comprises a membrane,such as Glassine, adhering to the tube surface through the medium of anapplied film, preferably shellac.

In the form shown in Fig. 1, the closure for the front end of the tube,that is, the end through which the plastic contents are to bedischarged, comprises, in part, a disc-like cap member 2, say of sheetmetal, which may have a hollow spout or applicator 3 on one side of itstransverse wall portion 4. The cap has a substantially cylindricalflange 5 projecting in the direction opposite the spout, and the flangefits tightly over the end of the tube l in the manner illustrated.

The opposite or rear end of the tube l is shown as closed by a movableend closure member l2 and additionally by an outside cap member 15,which parts and their functions will be more fully hereinafterdescribed.

Referring further to the discharge end. it will be noted that inside ofthe tube i and adjacent the cap 2 there is a cup-shaped disc 6, say ofsheet-metal, the body portion 1 of which is in face-to-face contact withthe body. of the cap, and which is apertured opposite the opening in thespout. The disc has a flange 8 lying inside the tube. The front endmargin of the wall of the tube I is pressed inwardly by the flange 5 ofthe cap member 2, and outwardly by the flange 8 of the disc 6; in otherwords, is tightly and continuously pinched between the two flanges,thereby sealing the receptacle at the discharge end against the passageof plastic material therefrom except through the apertures especiallyprovided for its egress.

This sealing arrangement does 'not require any special shape of flangeon the inner member or, in fact, any flange at all, providing the innermember has adequate peripheral surface and the necessary rigidity toeffect the above mentioned function. The purpose and advantage of thspecial flange will be discussed below. v

The end closure, just described, preferably includes a frangible discl0, say of paper, which may be pasted or otherwise secured on eitherside of the disc 6 over the opening therein, or on the inner side of.the cap, to normally block passage of plastic material through thediscarge opening. This frangible disc may be fractured in any suitablemanner, as by a nail or pencil, thrust into This 5 and through the spoutjust prior to use of the receptacle for dispensing; or the disc l may befractured by pressure on the contents of the tube incident to dispensingthe same. The disc III is shown as fractured at Illa, Fig. 4.

It is, of course, desired that the joint at the discharge end of thereceptacle be especially strong because pressure is concentrated at thisregion during the dispensing operation. Accordingly, the radial pressureon the margin on the tube l is, as shown, increased by radiallydistorting the flange of the member 6 after assembling the-same into thetube. The free edge 8a of the flange 8, as shown in Fig. 2, is madeslightly rounded, so that said edge extends inwardly toward the axis ofthe tube from the general peripheral surface of the flange. Thisfacilitates inserting the member 6 into the tube because it avoidslikelihood of scufllng the inner surface of the tube, as might a trulycylindrical flange.

After the members 2 and 6 have been placed on and in the end of thetube, the assembled parts may be placed in a suitable holder, such as ahollow block A, Fig. 2, and the rounded edge portion of the flange 8expanded and at least partially straightened by a suitable tool. Suchtool, as shown, comprises a bar B having a roundcd or frustc-conical endsurface Bl, which bar may be thrust into the tube from its opposite openend. As the frusto-conical surface Bl passes the free inturned edge ofthe flange (see Fig. 3) the flange is somewhat straightened andsubstantially the entire flange is pressed outwardly so as tocontinuously indent the material of the tube I, as shown in Figs. 1 and3 tightly compressing the material of the tube against the flange 5 ofthe cap 2 which latter flange is or may be reenforced by the holder andprevented from spreading during the operation described.

Referring again to the closure for the rear end of the tube I, Fig. 1,the end closure member l2 lies inside the tube and has a flange at l3,the free edge of which is directed rearwardly. The central body portionof the member i2 is imperforate and that of the member l5 preferably is.

The member I2 is designed to act as a piston whereby substantially theentire contents of the tube may be expressed through the spout 4, as bythe use of a suitable plunger in a supporting gun device, or otherwise.The member I2, is, of course, inserted after the plastic material (notshown) is placed in the tube, and if pressed from sheet metal in theusual way there is a slight radius joining the central body and theflange, and the radius facilitates insertion of the member I2 into thetube.

After the closure member l2 has been inserted (say to the positionshown, wherein the free edge of the flange lies inwardly from the rearend of the tube) the exposed inner marginal surface of the tube receivesa sealing application of material preferably shellac, as indicated at M.This may be applied so that it hardens to form a band or ribbon adjacentthe free edge of the flange on the closure member l2, preventing thesame from being accidentally dislodged and assisting in preventing theplastic contents of the tube from being squeezed out from between theinner closure member and tube wall, say during rough handling of thereceptacle.

The outside closure member I5 is, as shown, in the nature of a cap, theconstruction of which may be identical with that of the member l2, but,of course, larger so as to fit over the tube instead of inside it. Theflange ii of the member l5 fits the tube opposite the closure member l2,tightly enough so that the members l2 and I5 mutually act to compressbetween them the material of which the tube i is composed. Thisarrangement, together with the seal M, is always adequate to hold theplastic contents of the tube against exuding from the thus closed end ofthe receptacle, notwithstanding a very considerable amount of abuse inhandling, and notwithstanding wide variations in temperature. Hightemperatures, for instance, would tend to lower the viscosity of theplastic contents and increase the burden of the closure.

A suitable type of gun or holder for the dispensing receptacle hereof isshown in both Figs. 4 and 8. Fig. 8 shows substantially the same gun asshown in Fig. 4, but on a somewhat larger scale. The only difference inconstruction relates to the muzzle portion; the muzzle portion in Fig. 4being particularly adapted to serve for the form of receptacle shown inFig. 1 and that of Fig. 8 being adapted to serve in connection with theform of receptacle shown in Fig. '7.

The gun has a barrel 20, which is open at its muzzle end to receive theloaded or charged dispensing container, above described. The rear endclosure cap i5 is, of course, taken off the tube l to condition thecontainer for mounting it in the gun. The barrel may be formed from asuitable length of metal tubing. In the breech end of the barrel, asshown in Fig. 8, there is a breech closure member 2|, having aperipheral flange 2 la fitting inside the metal tubing and appropriatelysecured to it as by welding. The forward extremity of the flange 2laserves as an abutment for engaging the end of the tube i of thereceptacle, as shown in Fig. 8. The central portion of the breech member2| is tubularly formed, as at MD, to provide a guide for the operatingrod 23 of a suitable plunger 22.

The plunger 22 is appropriately shaped for engagement with the insiderear-end closure member l2 of the receptacle, so that the latter may beshoved through the receptacle in the manner of a piston for ejecting theplastic contents from the tube. A suitable stock or handle for the gunis indicated at 24, and this may be secured, as by suitable rivets, tothe breech member 2i.

The actuating mechanism of the gun may include a lever 25 in the natureof a trigger. This trigger-lever may have a releasable ratchet and pawlconnection with the operating rod of the plunger, such connection beingshown in my above identified application. The rod, as herein shown, hasratchet teeth 23a for engagement with such actuating mechanism. The rod23 may have an appropriate handle 26, at its outer end, by which theplunger 22 may be returned to initial position (within or adjacent thebreech member 2|), after the receptacle has been emptied.

The muzzle of the gun barrel is provided with suitable means forabutting the front end of the receptacle to hold the same in the gunduring the discharge of the plastic contents through the spout. Suchmeans as shown comprises a flanged sheet-metal ring 39, having ineflfect a bayonet lock connecting with the muzzle, such as illustratedin Figs. 5 and 6. These views, taken with Fig. 4, show a curved flange3| on the end of the barrel, cut away on opposite sides as at 32, toprovide entranceways for radially indented formations 33 on the flangeof the ring 30, so that when said formations pass the entranceways andthe ring is .then turned through an appropriate angle, the ring islocked on the barrel. The formations 33 may have slightly inclined inneredges for engagement behind the flange, as is usual in devices of thischaracter for drawing the ring tightly against the barreland/or thereceptacle hereof.

Referring now to Figs. 7 and 8, it will be noted in Fig. '7 that thedischarge end closure arrangement for the receptacle diifers from thepreviously described construction in that the cap 40, (corresponding ineffect to the cap 2 of Fig. 1) has a relatively short and taperedcentral discharge spout effect formed thereon east 42, the disclike bodybeing relatively indented as at 43 and the tube embracing flange 45being part of an annular rib effect 46, a portion of which lies insidethe end margin of the tube. The flange 45 fits tightly over the end ofthe tube.

The depressed body 43 of the cap member 40 seats on an inner closure cap41, (corresponding in effect to the member 6 of the previously describedconstruction) but having .a flange 48 which is turned outwardly insteadof inwardly, so that insertion of the member 41 into the end of the tubeI is facilitated. The flanges 45 and 48 of the respective cap memberscooperate in pinching the wall of the tube I so as to effect a tightseal. The disc-like body of the inner cap member 41 has a centralaperture aligned with the short spout effect 42, and this aperture isnormally sealed, as in the previously described construction, by abreakable disc I0.

Referring now to the muzzle portion of the gun, Fig. 8, it will be notedthat the gun is provided with a detachable end cap 50, which functionsessentially as does the ring member 30 of Fig. 5. The member 50 has abayonet lock type of connection with the flanged end of the barrel 20,and this may be identical with the connection illustrated in Figs. and6, the parts being similarly indicated.

The transverse wall 5i of the cap member 50,

instead of abutting the end of the dispensing receptacle, is providedwith a sealing gasket, as of rubber, shown at 52, and this is suitablyshaped to sealingly embrace the spout effect 42 when the cap 50 isattached to the gun barrel. It will be remembered that the tube I islimited in its rearward movement as by abutting the flange 2 la of thebreech closure 2 I, so that the gasket material is certain to becompressed by the spout effect when the cap 50 is in final position.

The sealing gasket 52 is preferably contained in a suitable circularrecess in a flanged sleeve 54, the flange 55 of which may be rigidlysecured to the body SI of the cap 50, as by projections 56, which enterrespective openings in the transverse wall of the cap and which may beriveted over to hold the sleeve 54 in place. The sleeve 54 has externalthreads, as at 51, on which may be interchangeably mounted hollow spoutextension members, one of which is illustrated at 58. These may be ofany suitable form and length. It will be seen that the arrangement shownin Figs.7 and 8 facilitates making the principal parts of the closuredevice as respective single metal stampings, reference being made, ofcourse, to the members 40 and 41, and that because the spout effect at42 is short, the dispensing receptacle may be packed in a smaller spaceand may be handled with less danger of damaging the discharge end of thereceptacle. Moreover, the arrangement permits a great variety of spoutextensions to be easily attached. The spout extensions 58 may be of anyconceivable shape.

The manner of operation of the above described apparatus is obvious fromthe above description and inspection of the drawings.

It will be seen that the receptacle is extremely reinforced by theplastic contents of the tube so that damage in shipment or handling isextremely unlikely to occur. The closure arrangements at the two ends,while very simple, have been found extremely satisfactory from thestandpoint of shipping and handling, as well as dispensing. Thecontainer represents a considerable improvement in the class ofapparatus exemplified thereby, it being the usual method to load theplastic material directly into the barrel of a dispensing gun whichloading operation is extremely tinietaking and after the material hasbeen dispensed from the gun, it is very difllcult to clean the gun for asubsequent operation. The latter disadvantage is particularly true afterthe gun has been standing for only a short time. With the present systemthere is practically no chance of any of the plastic contents of thetube coming into contact with the gun, or the hands or clothing of theoperator.

With respect to the Glassine liner attached to the fibrous body materialof the tube, as with 1shellac, this very effectively prevents thepassage of fluid or plastic hydrocarbon materials to the outer fibrousbody. The shellac alone is effective for the above stated purpose and incases where a continuous film of shellac is easily maintained on thesurface of the tube material, the same may be used alone (without theGlassine e. g. fllm) depending on the character of the material formingthe tube, that is, depending on its capacity to absorb the shellac.

I claim:

1. In a dispensing receptacle for plastic material, a tube of relativelyyieldable material, rigid annular means, having a flange peripherallyand continuously embracing one end of the tube and directly engaging theyieldable material thereof, and closure means concentric with theaforesaid means and disposed inside the tube radially opposite theannular means, the radial distance between the two means being less thanthe thickness of the tube wall whereby the material of the tube isradially squeezed and compressed between the two means to form a seal.

2. A dispensing receptacle for plastic material, comprising a tube ofcompressible material, both ends of which are normally substantiallyclosed by wall members inside the tube, and means embracing the tuberadially opposite the respective members and compressing the material ofthe tube thereagainst, one of the members having a dispensing openingfor egress of the plastic material, the other said member sealinglyfitting the tube when moved substantially its entire length.

3. A dispensing receptacle, comprising an elongated tube of relativelyyieldable material, a closure device marginally telescoping one end ofthe tube and having a dispensing opening, means radially compressing thematerial of the end of the tube against the closure deviceto form aperipheral seal, said means and closure device being continuously spacedfrom each other a distance less than the thickness of the wall of thetube, and means to close the opposite end of the tube.

4. In a dispensing receptacle for plasticma te'rial; a paper tube, a caphaving a flange embracing one end of the tube, a movable wall located inthe same end radiallyopposite the flange and adapted to serve as apiston in ejecting material from the tube, the paper tube, in theinitial position of said wall, being continuously compressed between theflange and said means to form a peripheral seal.

5. In a dispensing receptacle, an elongated substantially cylindricaltube of relatively compressible material, open at its end, a closuredevice located interiorly of the tube at said end, a cooperating deviceexternally of the tube radially opposite the aforesaid closure deviceand continuously spaced from the closure device a distance less than thethickness of the wall of the tube, whereby peripherally and continuouslyto compress the material of said end of the tube against the closuredevice, and a hollow dispensing spout carried by one of said devices andprojecting outwardly from the tube.

6. A dispensing receptacle comprising an elongated tube of relativelylight compressible material, a closure device for one end of the tube,having a dispensing spout thereon and having a flange continuouslyembracing the end of the tube, a separate device inserted inside thetube opposite the flange and continuously spaced from the flange adistance less than the thickness of the wall of the tube, therebycompressing the wall of the tube against the flange: to form a seal, anda movable wall member closing the opposite end of the tube andutilizable as a piston to express the contents of the tube through thespout.

7. In combination with a tubular container body made of relativelyyieldable material, substantially non-yielding means peripherallyembracing one end of the body, a flanged member adapted to be slid intothe body from the same end, the flange having an intumed rounded edgefor facilitating insertion thereof into the body, said rounded edgebeing embedded outwardly radially in the body material in a manner tocompress it against the relatively non-yielding means.

8. In a dispensing receptacle, an elongated tube of compressiblematerial, a cap having a discharge opening, and a flange continuouslyembracing one end of the tube, annular means inside of the tube oppositethe flange, said means and flange compressing the material of the tubebetween them to form a peripheral seal, and a pliable, frangible webextending across and normally closing the discharge opening.

9. In a dispensing receptacle for plastic materials, an elongated tubeof relatively yieldable material, a closure device with an axiallyextending flange for one end of the tube, telescopingly fltting withinthe same when moved substantially the entire length of the tube, wherebythe closure device may be used as a piston for ejecting the plasticcontents of the tube, and relatively nonyielding means peripherallyembracing the tube radially opposite the said device and forcing thewall of the tube tightly against the peripheral surface of the flange.

10. In a dispensing receptacle for plastic material, a tube, an innerclosure device for one end of the tube adapted to tightly peripherallyengage the tube wall inwardly from said end, and a continuous ribbon ofsealing material lying inside the tube adjacent the periphery of thedevice and adhering to the inner marginal surface of the tube.

11. In a dispensing receptacle for plastic material, a body formed of apaper tube having lining means impervious to the passage of the plasticmaterial therethrough, an inner closure disc for one end of the tubeadapted to serve as a piston in ejecting the plastic contents of thetube therefrom, and a band of sealing material adhering to the innermarginal surface of the tube adjacent the outer surface of the disc.

12. In apparatus for dispensing plastic material, a tube having an endclosure provided with a discharge opening, a holder for the tube, andmeans mounted in the holder arranged to effect a compressible sealcontinuously about the opening, said means including means abutting theopposite end of the tube and maintaining the sealing means incompression.

13. In apparatus for dispensing plastic material, comprising a tubehaving an end closure provided with a hollow tapered discharge member, aholder for the tube having an end wall adapted to support a dischargespout, and a compressible gasket radially interposed between thedischarge member and end wall, and means on the holder abutting theopposite end of the tube to maintain said gasket peripherally compressedbetween opposite surfaces of the discharge member and end wall when thetube is mounted in the holder adjacent said end wall.

14. In apparatus for dispensing plastic material, a tube having an endclosure provided with an outwardly projecting tapered discharge device,a holder for the tube, and a detachable end wall member for the holder,said member having a sleeve in alignment with the discharge device, andan annular gasket carried by the sleeve arranged to peripherally embracethe tapered discharge device as a seal when the end wall member isattached to the holder.

15. A dispensing receptacle comprising an elongated tube of relativelylight compressible material, a spout device associated with one end ofthe tube, means for closing the opposite end of the tube comprising awall member inserted into the tube and carrying an axially extendingperipheral flange which flts the tube throughout substantially itsentire length, and means externally of the tube radially opposite saidwall member and continuously spaced therefrom a distance less than thethickness of the walls of the tube whereby to compress the material ofthe tube continuously against the peripheral surface of said flange andnormally hold the same against movement in the tube.

16. In a receptacle of the class described, said receptacle comprising atube having a dispensing spout at one end, a closure member in theopposite end of the tube having an axially extending flange portioncontinuously circumferentially engaging the inner wall of the tube, saidmember being slidable from one end of the tube to the other to expressits contents through the spout, a cooperating member continuouslyexternally embracing and squeezing the tube radially opposite theclosure member, said cooperating member having a wall extending inabutting relation to the end of the tube.

WILLIAM E. SHERBONDY.

